West View meeting on school closure gets heated

Monday

May 12, 2014 at 6:54 PMMay 12, 2014 at 9:33 PM

By Corina CurryRockford Register Star

ROCKFORD — West View Elementary School parents and neighbors were hot and bothered Monday afternoon in the school’s non-air-conditioned gymnasium talking about the Rockford School District’s proposal to close the school.

About 60 people attended the meeting that was led by District Superintendent Ehren Jarrett. Some audience members used the informational booklets handed out at the beginning of the meeting to fan themselves as Jarrett gave an overview of the district’s plans.

The gathering was just one of 39 meetings scheduled for this month to discuss sweeping changes. The proposal — presented in three parts: Plan A, B and C — calls for the closure of seven to nine elementary schools. If nine schools are closed, two would be built — one in near-southeast Rockford and one in Cherry Valley.

Several parents and neighbors expressed strong opposition to the district’s plans.

“I’m very disappointed,” said Jessi Mace, who has three kids at West View. “We bought our house in this neighborhood because we liked this school. We moved into that house so all of our kids could go here. ... I was just here three years ago fighting for this school to stay open, and I feel like we’re right back on the chopping block.”

Mace was referring to the district’s move to shut down six schools for the 2011-12 school year. Officials considered closing West View that year but ultimately chose other schools.

Parents and neighbors of West View, 1720 Halsted Road, hope the same thing happens this year.

“At the elementary level, I don’t agree that bigger is better,” said Jim Bannister, vice president of the West View Parent-Teacher Organization. “We believe smaller is better. ... This is a very tight-knit school. Teachers know the kids’ first and last names. It’s like a family, and that’s how we like it.

“We’re going to do whatever we can to keep this school open.”

From 35 to 28

No schools would close for the 2014-15 school year, officials said, and no teachers would lose their jobs.

If one of the plans is adopted this summer, Dennis Early Childhood Center, King, West View, Kishwaukee, Thompson and Cherry Valley — at minimum — would close in the next 10 years. Two other schools — White Swan and Nelson — could close, as well.

The district is in the process of adopting a new 10-year facilities plan. It plans to spend $250 million on building additions and upgrades. Most of the money comes from a $139 million bond referendum passed by voters in 2012. About $50 million is coming from cash reserves.

The elementary school plan, which takes the district from 35 buildings to 28, is expected to cost about $100 million. The buildings would be demolished and turned into green space.

According to the district’s plan, fewer elementary schools would mean more dedicated resources. Larger elementary schools — between 475 and 633 students per building — would mean less jumping from school to school for art and music teachers, psychologists, special education teachers, social workers and nurses. And, it would allow the district to avoid costly repairs at older buildings and get rid of buildings that are costly to run.

Better way to connect

Jarrett took some heat Monday for not holding a town hall-style, question-and-answer session. Other community input meetings have ended with questions from the audience.

Instead Jarrett, Chip Hickman, assistant superintendent for secondary schools, and Dennis Harezlak, a member of the district’s facilities task force, addressed people’s questions one-on-one or in small groups.

“People want to hear other people’s questions and the district’s answers,” said Kate Schnell, who attended the meeting at West View. “Some people can’t think of what to ask when they’re put on the spot. Some people are shy.”

“I have no more information than I did before I came here,” said West View neighbor Kay Smith. “They never explained what the problem is how these changes would make things better. ... I would have liked to hear from other people.”

Jarrett said he preferred speaking in small groups.

“I love to have conversations with parents, teachers and community members, and I feel you have a better chance for dialogue this way,” Jarrett said. “It’s a better way to connect.”